Missouri yards can burst with color all year long if you pick the right plants. From spring’s first blooms to winter’s hardy survivors, these flowering beauties thrive in our state’s unique climate.
Discover which plants will keep your garden looking spectacular no matter what season rolls around.
1. Purple Coneflower: Native Prairie Star
Standing tall through summer heat, purple coneflower brings butterflies flocking to Missouri gardens. Its distinctive purple-pink petals surround a spiky orange-brown center that’s impossible to miss.
A true Missouri native, this drought-tolerant perennial needs almost no care once established. Plant it in full sun and enjoy blooms from June through October, even during the hottest weeks of summer.
2. Black-Eyed Susan: Golden Summer Glory
Cheerful golden faces with dark centers make Black-Eyed Susans an instant mood-lifter in any Missouri landscape. These hardy natives create waves of sunshine-yellow from June through September.
Amazingly resilient to both drought and poor soil, they’ll multiply year after year with almost no effort. Plant them in clusters for the most dramatic effect, and watch as goldfinches visit to feast on their seeds.
3. Butterfly Weed: Monarch Magnet
Brilliant orange clusters atop sturdy stems make butterfly weed an eye-catching addition to any Missouri yard. As its name suggests, this native plant attracts countless monarchs and other butterflies throughout summer.
Unlike many showy flowers, butterfly weed thrives in poor, dry soil and blazing sun. Once established, its deep taproot helps it survive drought conditions that would kill less hardy plants. The flat-topped flower clusters provide perfect landing pads for hungry pollinators.
4. Serviceberry: Four-Season Wonder
Early spring brings clouds of delicate white flowers to serviceberry trees before most other plants show signs of life. By summer, these Missouri natives produce sweet blueberry-like fruits that birds adore.
Fall transforms serviceberry’s leaves into a spectacular show of orange and red. Even winter reveals beauty through its smooth gray bark and elegant structure. Growing 15-25 feet tall, these small trees work beautifully in yards where space is limited.
5. Cardinal Flower: Hummingbird Heaven
Cardinal flower’s brilliant red spikes light up shady spots with a color so intense it seems to glow. Hummingbirds simply can’t resist these tubular blooms that appear from July through September.
Unlike many native plants that demand full sun, cardinal flower thrives in partial shade and moist soil. Perfect for those tricky spots near downspouts or in woodland gardens. Missouri gardeners treasure this native perennial for its ability to attract ruby-throated hummingbirds like no other plant.
6. Ozark Witch Hazel: Winter’s Golden Surprise
Just when you think nothing could possibly bloom, Ozark witch hazel unfurls spidery yellow flowers along bare branches. These fragrant blooms often appear in January or February, sometimes even while snow blankets the ground.
Native to Missouri’s Ozark region, this small tree grows slowly to 15 feet tall and wide. Beyond winter flowers, it offers spectacular yellow-to-orange fall color. The unusual blooming time makes it especially valuable for Missouri gardeners seeking year-round interest.
7. Wild Columbine: Spring’s Dangling Jewels
Wild columbine’s nodding red and yellow flowers hang like delicate lanterns from slender stems in spring. Hummingbirds probe the distinctive spurred petals for nectar, performing aerial acrobatics around these native beauties.
Growing naturally on rocky slopes and woodland edges across Missouri, columbine adapts easily to garden settings. Its blue-green foliage emerges early and looks attractive even before the April-May flowering period. Seeds scattered after blooming ensure more plants will appear next year.
8. Rose Mallow: Late-Summer Showstopper
Dinner-plate sized blooms in shades of pink, white, or red make rose mallow impossible to overlook in late summer. Growing up to 7 feet tall, this native hibiscus creates a tropical effect in Missouri gardens when most other plants look tired.
Surprisingly easy to grow, rose mallow thrives in moist areas but adapts to average garden conditions too. Hummingbirds and butterflies flock to the massive flowers that appear from July through September. Cut stems back in spring for bushier growth and more blooms.
9. Prairie Blazing Star: Purple Spires of Summer
Reaching skyward like purple rockets, blazing star’s flower spikes create vertical drama in summer gardens. Butterflies cover these native plants from July through September, especially monarchs fueling up for migration.
Missouri prairie remnants showcase blazing star in its natural habitat, but it adapts beautifully to home gardens too. Drought-tolerant once established, it asks only for full sun and well-drained soil. The unusual top-to-bottom blooming pattern keeps interest lasting for weeks.
10. Aromatic Aster: Fall’s Purple Cloud
Small purple daisy-like flowers blanket aromatic aster in such profusion that the foliage disappears beneath them. September and October bring this spectacular show just when most garden color is fading.
Bees and butterflies swarm to these late-season blooms, making aromatic aster an essential plant for pollinator gardens. Drought-resistant and happy in poor soil, this Missouri native asks almost nothing of gardeners. A light trim in early summer creates bushier plants with even more flowers.
11. Pawpaw: Tropical Fruit In Missouri Gardens
Maroon bell-shaped flowers dangle from pawpaw branches in early spring, followed by America’s largest native fruit. These custard-like treats taste like a blend of banana and mango – a tropical surprise in Missouri landscapes!
Growing as understory trees in Missouri woodlands, pawpaws adapt well to partial shade in home gardens. Their large tropical-looking leaves turn brilliant yellow in fall. Plant at least two different varieties for proper pollination and fruit production.
12. Virginia Bluebells: Spring’s Blue Carpet
Pink buds transform into hanging clusters of sky-blue flowers when Virginia bluebells emerge in early spring. Appearing before most trees leaf out, they create breathtaking blue carpets in woodland gardens across Missouri.
Though the foliage disappears by summer (a process called dormancy), these native ephemerals are worth every square inch of garden space. Plant them where later-emerging perennials will fill the gap. The delicate blue bells attract early-season pollinators when few other flowers are available.
13. Ninebark: Year-Round Structure And Spring Flowers
Clusters of white or pink flowers cover ninebark shrubs in May, creating a frothy display that lasts for weeks. Named for its peeling bark that reveals multiple layers, this Missouri native offers visual interest even in winter.
Newer varieties bring burgundy or golden foliage to the mix, making ninebark a standout in any landscape. Growing 5-8 feet tall and wide, these tough shrubs shrug off drought, poor soil, and Missouri’s temperature extremes. Butterflies and native bees visit the spring flowers in droves.
14. American Beautyberry: Fall’s Purple Berry Bonanza
Clusters of vibrant purple berries encircle beautyberry’s stems in fall, creating one of the most unusual displays in Missouri gardens. Small pink flowers appear in summer, but the spectacular fruit steals the show from September through November.
Birds flock to the berries, which persist after the yellow fall foliage drops. This native shrub grows 3-5 feet tall and thrives in partial shade to full sun. Beautyberry bounces back vigorously even after harsh winters damage its branches.
15. Redbud: Missouri’s Spring Sensation
Magenta-pink flowers emerge directly from the bark of redbud trees, creating a magical effect before leaves appear. These Missouri natives transform ordinary landscapes into springtime wonderlands from March through April.
Heart-shaped leaves follow the flowers, eventually turning yellow in fall. Eastern redbud grows naturally as an understory tree throughout Missouri woodlands but adapts beautifully to home landscapes. Some varieties offer burgundy or golden foliage for extended seasonal interest.